Building a Shop

[RegionalChaos]

Howdy Folks!

I've been thinking about how I will set up a shop at home for smithing. I don't really have any adequate, enclosed space now. So I was thinking of building some! I figured early next summer (or spring) I can have someone pour a slab for me. Then construct a simple shop from 4"x4"s and metal siding. I want to have plenty of windows and vents and some big double doors.. I haven't done any real construction before, but I think it would be a lot of fun to do myself. Does anyone have any advice about building a shop? How large of a foot print should I use? (I was thinking 20'x30'??) Any good tips, tricks, suggestions, etc?

[Ten Hammers]

Couple 3 questions. What equipment to you currently have ? Are you planning to use steel truck for deliveries ? Will you have a lift truck in the shop ? Crane, or like most of us, hand carry ? Material handling can be a real pain. Most hot rolled steel is 20' long. 20 x 30 would be my smallest thought. My shop is an old garage and it's 20'square ( outside dimensions). Can't get 20'steel inside really easily + I have to open door to cut steel. Sheet, I cut in half ( 48 w x 48 or 60 long ). Heating and ventilation of course are major thoughts. Rain too (porch roof mebbe off of one door ). Do you plan to use this as a smithy only or have other thoughts ? Let us know.

Ten

[ThomasPowers]

My current shop is 20x30, all steel construction save for the concrete pad and a fiberglass panel for a skylight. No "where did that hot piece of steel go" worries

I have a 10'x10' roll up door at either end for ventilation and a "man door" on the side.

I plan to build a "forge porch" out front of it for the coal forges with only partial sidewalls. The propane forges are welcome in the "clean shop" part...

I'm slowly involved in wiring my shop for 200 amp service with 110 and 220 plugs every 5' around the perimeter and a welder outlet near one of the roll up doors and a triphammer plug up on one of the trusses. Also 5 banks of 8' long fluorescent lighting individually controlled.

Can you extend an eve and put your long steel storage outside under it?

Is security an issue?

Is there a habitat for humanity resale store near you? Where a lot of my electrical components were purchased...

Thomas

[rthibeau]

A general rule of shop construction is to figure out how much room is needed and then build double that. The problem is one of the Laws of Nature: no shop is ever big enough. Having taken that into account, build as big a one as you can. I built a 12'x24' shop initially, then added a 30'x24' extension with concrete slab. A power hammer, gas and coal forge, 4'x8' layout table, wood stove, sanders, drill press, etc all take up a lot of space. I built with 2x4 framing and T-111 plywood siding. Another aspect to consider: ceiling height. Swinging a 10 - 20 foot length of steel around requires headroom as well as floor space. Thomas and Ten gave good thoughts, and as to wiring have outlets overhead in the middle, too, especially over any work table or bench in the middle of the floor - no extension cords in the way then. Keep us posted on progress.

[RegionalChaos]

You guys ask great questions are helping me think about great stuff

TenHammers:

I don't really have much equipment yet. I'm relatively young (late 20's) and just starting to acquire things like good tools. A have a few things along the line of a good bench vise, etc.. I figure the shop will have workbenches lining maybe 2 walls. That way I can have bench tool workstations for grinders, etc.. I plan on building a small portable forge this fall / winter. I'll then be able to use the portable coal forge and anvil outside until the shop is ready. Then once the shop is ready, I'll build a nicer, bigger coal forge inside. As well as probably a propane forge, but first I'll start withthe coal I'm planning on taking a welding class at the local community college this next quarter. I'm pretty sure I'll want to pick up a welder to work with as well.

I've thought about truck access and I'm not 100% sure about it. The shop will be in the back of the back yard, and as it is right now, no truck can drive back to it. So that leaves me hand carrying (or using a hand cart) everything. But.... I think we are going to require truck access to pour the slab, so maybe access will be available afterall.. What's the story with the big shop cranes? I've seen them in commercial fabrication shops. Are they prohibitively expensive? How handy are they?

I can definately do porches and overhangs.

The primary function of the shop will likely be acombination of Smithy plus house hold chore / fixit kinda stuff. I was also thinking that I might eventually start to get more tools for wood working as well, since I'll have a shop and everything.. But I don't think I would start acquiring wood working tools for a few years.

Thomas:

The whole "where did that hot piece of steel go" is also one of the reasons I thought that concrete and steel siding made a lot of sense. Much less fire safety worries.

The roll up doors sound like a good option. And I can definately build an overhang and store my long stock out side of the shop. I don't think security will be too much of an issue. We live in a nice, quite neighborhood. I'll just have to be careful to lock the doors so the kids stay out of the shop. I'm not planning on doing any of the wiring myself, I figured I'd bring in an electritian for that But it is good to think about how many outlets I'll need. The one every 5' sounds like good advice.

I'm trying not to think about things like "what if I get a power hammer" because that would all be a ways off. I don't want to plan on everything seeing as how I'm just starting. I figure I'll tackle some of those issues down the line if I stay serious about it.


Phewwwww!!! Long post! Thanks again!

[Nolano]

It would be better to consider things now, and be prepared, then to not, and regret it later. I would make sure there is a wall sturdy enough to put stock racks on, and also that your power grid can provide your shop with enough juice. What area of Eugene do you live in, Jim?

[RegionalChaos]

I live out near River Road. I'm not too worried about power issues, I think they should be fine.

[Chris Pook]

I'm just trying to finish off my new shop at home, Had to move in before it was ready (my old lease ran out) and its fun building around the machines.

Give yourself alot of time to build it. Depending on how your finishing it, and how many of your friends actually show up to help its alot of work. My shop is 24x52 with 12' ceilings (i'd go higher next time) fully drywalled 5/8" and insulated. I've been building mine since the beginning of May, mostly by myself, and its just now getting near completetion. I need to do all the small exterio trim/fascia work and finish the electrical. Mines finished fairly nicely on the outside, Red Cedar trim etc just to help with future resale and keep the neighbours happy.

I have the last 12' sectioned off for my wifes photo studio, so my work area is 24'x40' which is a decent size but getting abit squishy now that I have all my machines in there.

Build as big as you can...and double the budget you have figured out

I could of worked in a smaller space, but wanted at least one open spot for a vehicle with area in front to work on it just in case I need to work on something.

[ThomasPowers]

Can you get 3 phase power? most used 3 phase equipment is a lot cheaper than single phase.

You are young---what are the chances you will be moving? You may want to put money in equipment rather than the building if you may move in 5 years. Also sturdy metal shelves that can move with you may be better than built in's

Make sure that there is a seperate storge shed for things like lawn mowers, shovels, rakes, etc---don't clutter up the shop with them! I had an abandoned small school bus moved to my property just for "yard" tools and camping equipment storage.

Thomas

[Chris Pook]

Originally Posted by ThomasPowers

Can you get 3 phase power? most used 3 phase equipment is a lot cheaper than single phase.

You are young---what are the chances you will be moving? You may want to put money in equipment rather than the building if you may move in 5 years. Also sturdy metal shelves that can move with you may be better than built in's

Make sure that there is a seperate storge shed for things like lawn mowers, shovels, rakes, etc---don't clutter up the shop with them! I had an abandoned small school bus moved to my property just for "yard" tools and camping equipment storage.

Thomas

I think the house hold clutter being kept out of the shop is a must do. I told my wife from day one nothing but work related stuff is coming the shop, and that I'd post a sign on the door.

I'm using pallet racking for my shelfing picked up a bunch used at an auction for a reasonable amount of $, I then sheathed the shelves in 3/4" and 1" plywood.